Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters, operated from Boulder City, Nevada, has had at least three other fatal crashes in the last 20 years

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By James Beal, US Editor

13th February 2018, 1:34 am

Updated: 13th February 2018, 3:48 am

THE helicopter firm behind the Grand Canyon crash has been at the centre of a dozen aviation probes, it has been claimed.

Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters, operated from Boulder City, Nevada, has had at least three other fatal crashes in the last 20 years.

Teddy Fujimoto

Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters has had at least three other fatal crashes in the last 20 years

Teddy Fujimoto

The firm has been at the centre of a dozen aviation probes, it has been claimed

That includes a 2001 disaster near the Canyon when a tour pilot lost control of the chopper, killing himself and five others.

A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report issued in 2004 blamed the pilot's decision to descend too fast and too close to the scenic Grand Wash Cliffs.

The Federal Aviation Administration has barred flights from dipping below the Canyon rim and mandated a 500-foot buffer zone between aircraft and any obstacles.

Gary Robb, a US helicopter litigation lawyer, said he believed that Papillon had been involved in about a dozen investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Stuart and Becky died when their aircraft exploded in a fireball in the Nevada desert

Ellie and John were newlyweds, pictured here at their wedding last year

Teddy Fujmoto

The scene of the helicopter crash on Saturday

An ever-growing demand for flights around the 277-mile Grand Canyon natural wonder has led it to be dubbed “helicopter alley” and experts say regulations do not go far enough.

Mr Robb said: “Everybody wants to see the same thing. It is a recipe for disaster.”

In relation to the crash which killed three Brits on Saturday, he added: “It’s too early to speculate, but early indications suggest that perhaps heavy gusts could have been a factor that drove the aircraft to strike a wall of the canyon.

“The other possibility is some sort of in-flight mechanical issue, including an engine problem or main rotor blade fracture or defect. You also cannot rule out human error.”